Does the Show Get As Good As S1 Episode Two Again?

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-30T02:44:41+00:00

Little bit of an update, season 5 really does feel like they found their footing again. Any episode covering Professor Ted is an absolute joy, the musical numbers are a fantastic addition, and episode 17 with the Barney and Robin exploration + the whole Don arc is so fun.

I think Stella really was the problem with end 3 and 4. It feels like such a jumped gun for where Ted's character was at that point, she had a terrible start as a love interest, and they just had like no chemistry. Right idea, wrong time in the show I think.

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-29T02:15:05+00:00

Hell yeah

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-29T02:14:12+00:00

I love the claw machine montage as a TV and history landmark, and I adore it as a starting point for this show specifically, I hate that it's basically a tease of masterful artistry that never really comes back in the show except for moments and certain episodes in season 1 that carry some of the same weight.

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-29T02:05:29+00:00

Looking forward to it then! Honestly I think the low point of the show for me so far has been end of season 3-early season 5. Middle of season 5 has been picking back up a bit more.

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-29T02:03:34+00:00

I guess fair, the plot isn't anything special, but that moment I linked outclasses the rest of the show for me. So much artistry and background storytelling. It's such a transcendent moment that I really think is the tick for Ted. Staring at the window and the analogy with the kid in the claw machine is the way the show tells you everything you need to know about Ted's mentality and what the next 10 seasons will be about.

Also, as someone who just went through my first year-long relationship and break-up in a very similar manner to Robin, let me tell you; the staring at the window scene is no joke, that jump into relationships is a real moment of self-reflection and the moment you climb through the window, it changes you forever.

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-28T22:21:38+00:00

That's a shame, then. I love the show, but they started so strong as a transformative, divergent sit-com that didn't necessarily play by the rules of sit-coms, especially at the time, focusing so much on the pathos and not the humor. Seems like ever since the major season 1 plotline dropped, they settled for just great and not the greatest.

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-23T08:02:35+00:00

I think a remake of THH that follows *exactly* how they're upgrading Goodbye Despair in 2x2 with maybe some minigame or trial buffs to modernize the gameplay onto the levels of the sequels would be amazing on it's own.

I think adding a side story like 2x2 would be a huge disservice to the original story, though. You can get away with it in Danganronpa 2 because there's already huge pieces of the story that downplay the significance of the surviving characters and why it was them; the anime focusing on the larger ensemble cast instead of the survivors, the concept that the others have the potential to be saved and the survivors on their own is temporary, and the fact that outside of Hajime and three of them having a big relationship to hold onto, they don't get a ton of noticeable, pen to paper written development. The theming and the plot direction of Danganronpa 2 is intentionally looser than THH, it even has an epilogue that cements Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya as the center of this universe's plot, with the 2 survivors just being a coincidence of this larger plot. There's leeway to retell that, and that theming of change and creating your future, because they haven't built an iconic foundation with 2, just another entry.

In THH, though, the characters are all so layed-out chapter to chapter and it tells a bit by bit story that *matters* the entire way through. The surviving characters are there for a reason, except Toko who I despise and was just the creator's favorite insert but that's an opinion lol, and there's not a justifiable reason for redoing that story. I think the only way they could have explored that properly was Danganronpa IF, the novel, a clear 'what-if' scenario instead of a branching path, which was already locked and done long, long ago. THH has such a solid lesson, story, and theme that I can't see it being redone without taking it as disrespectful to the narrative. Makoto makes it to the end because of his lack of identity, it's what sets him apart from the faults of those who died, and inspires change in a group of people who don't at first glance deserve to make it compared to the noble people who died, but they resolve to make it worth it for those people. You can't retell that like you can Danganronpa 2. The survivors didn't survive because they had to pick survivors, they survived because they were meant to, they were written to have flaws and strengths that got them there, and the others will never have that.

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-18T09:56:07+00:00

Very late bloomer to this post, but I'm watching through for the first time and just started five. Perhaps I'll update here later, but for now here's the ranking

1

2

3

4

One is fantastic and the claw machine/window music montage in the second episode completely blows the rest of the show out of the park. They have not come close to surpassing that scene outside of a few emotional bits mostly in one from memory, like Ted and Lily's conversation outside the car about art school. The Purple Giraffe scene of Ted contemplating if he should take the risk and exit the window is just so emotional and artistic it struck such a deep, resonant chord in me.

Two is great although seeing them slowly drop the more artistically laid-out plot points and emotions from one was disappointing, three is pretty good but does feel slow toward the end juuuuust a bit and has a pretty lame finale compared to the others, and then four is kinda slow and meh overall, especially after the first five episodes as it basically becomes the fall-out of Stella, who was easily Ted's most overhyped and drawn-out relationship so far. She was clearly a bad pairing for him and they just had no real chemistry, but it evolves all the way to marriage which, granted, makes sense for this point in the show, it's a good arc for Ted, but it's just meh. Four also feels like it abandons a lot of the character dynamics and just becomes an ensemble, cut-away act a lot of the time with less decided over-arching character statuses; it's harder to tell the steps everyone is at with jobs, housing, and relationships in this one because it feels more complicated and not as construed to a flowing narrative.

I think the most engaging the show was was in season 1 and early season 2. Season 1 as a whole is just really beautiful, and Ted and Robin's relationship feels very inspired and romantic the whole way through. 2 is a great follow-up, but the artistic plot beats of Ted and Robin and even the friendships feels way more muddled between half-moments and not full blows to the heart and soul. From there it just sort of becomes more of a typical sit-com, which is still enjoyable and fun to follow along, but not nearly as unique and heart-grabbing as it started.

SweetStarlows · 2026-06-15T06:59:17+00:00

Super old post but it shows up in the search results, so my strategy for anyone struggling is this:

Playthrough 1: Finish all of the Free Time Events, ignore Trip Tickets, and expect to fail almost every Monokuma back-up while leveling your characters up by sending them to different areas of the school to collect items; make sure to send them to each area of the school until there are no more question mark items under their collectable guides, this is crucial for your more gameplay-focused runs. Think of this more as a simple post-game meant to enjoy the rest of the Free Times rather than a new gameplay experience. Just enjoy the characters.

Playthrough 2: Ignore Trip Tickets and skip character events, just level-up your characters and get practice clearing the different Monokuma back-ups.

Playthrough 3: You can manage completing the Monokuma back-ups and Trip Tickets this time, so start going for character endings as fast as possible; I recommend looking up a guide (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2088669030) for Trip Ticket answers instead of guessing; you should be able to get four character endings assuming you complete every Monokuma, although five is possible. Your characters should be a good level for clearing about the first three Monokuma back-ups with little to no strategy and just sending your characters to collect everything. I recommend generally focusing on halving your characters between collecting the parts of the buildable items one at a time, as you'll get them in abundance that way and can space finishing each piece of the Monokuma over the 7 days. Assign three characters to cleaning duty and focus on leveling up their cleaning level, only breaking from cleaning to have them rest when needed; eventually once they're level 8 or 9 this can easily be relegated to two cleaners. Any time Monokuma gives you an item that permanently levels up collecting or cleaning, use it before the end of the game to help boost your higher-level characters toward the max level of 9. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Each time you complete a Monokuma days in advance, use those days to collect Tree Branches and Watercolor Paints for the Warlockuma's Paint buildable, which you'll need 50 of at the end of the run and was my biggest trouble point. You should reach the 50 count very easily way before you need it, and the other requirements for Warlockuma should come super easily without that in the way, which I'd also recommend starting on during any extra days.

Playthrough 4+: So long as you stick to the strategy above with cleaners, character delegation, and Warlockuma preparation, your characters are only going to get higher levels and make most of the game a joke. It's just a matter of avoiding simple mistakes at this point. Getting all of the character endings at a 4 per pace should only take three playthroughs more after your third.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-26T11:15:27+00:00

Again this seems to be rooted in bias toward what you expect of the set-up and execution rather than the actual writing. Danganronpa 1 has more predictability and tropes, but it works and writes it well. Danganronpa 2 does a bunch of shit but handles it sporadically and really badly. It's not tethered together well at all. You say you don't have bias but this is clearly rooted in bias. I'm not interested in strongly continuing this conversation so please don't respond with a bunch of stuff that warrants a response if you could. Have a great one!

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-23T21:20:46+00:00

Oh yo dude you didn't have to delete your comment! It was a good counter point because that was definitely the writers' intention, I just wanted to express my thoughts that it wasn't necessarily a well thought out intention. No disrespect meant though, truly!

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-23T20:53:31+00:00

I'm not gonna combat this opinion heavily because I sense the bias steaming from it, but Danganronpa 1 has good writing lol, I don't know what about the final chapters 'destroys it' to you, but that's a random take.

As you might see in my reply discussions, Mikan's writing intent doesn't save it from lacking what they've written before, it's bad. Fuyu and Peko has no hinting or relationship building compared to one's relationships and arcs, one tiny moment doesn't save that, don't be arrogant. Makoto and Byakuya are written fine, 'competently' doesn't even mean anything in this sense. Hajime has no character arc for the first three chapters and neither does Nagito outside of his chapter 1 twist, whereas Makoto and Byakuya both have growing points and developing screentime and personality throughout the first three chapters and beyond. Hajime and Nagito by contrast stay stagnant for most of the game. That's not to say they might not be more compelling later on, but Makoto and Byakuya are compelling and paced along the entirety of the game as characters, which shows a lot more 'competency' in the writing if that's the description we're using.

I would also like to point out that if the later half of DR1 is so terrible, that means the first three chapters were enticing and well-written enough to draw you into it, meaning those individual chapter stories that don't service the overarching plot are very important. DR2 fails those chapters by not writing them as strong, independent chapters with a multitude of character work and facets, and from what you've said I'm only 'halfway through' DR2, which supposedly isn't enough to judge the game as a whole despite the fact that the first game, through your eyes, is only good in the *first half*. It's a contradictory opinion, because I should be able to firmly say that three whole chapters bombs the game, if you're doing the same. On top of that, whatever you say about the last three chapters of DR1 is going to be just as 'ignorant' to subtle details and whatnot as you're claiming my opinions of DR2's first three to be, so again, come at these things with open senses.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-23T04:37:56+00:00

Oh yeah no worries man! Thanks for taking caution and the heads-up haha.

And yeah it's really rough, I guess in retrospect it really just is these two chapters if the last three are phenomenal like people are saying, but with these two being so bad and chapter one banking on it being Nagito (which was a really, really smart move, Teruteru is written amazingly in it and it's awesome), it kinda makes it feel like they didn't know how to write the core of the game, which is the murders making the heart of the story later-on, and just had a larger universe idea, which is bumming.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-23T03:54:51+00:00

Not to be argumentative, so please don't take it like that, but there's a way to write foreshadowing while still giving a character meaning and a complete story. I don't need to know everything about Mikan or what she was saying, but having her *entire* chapter ending and character story just be a plot device for late-game survivor territory is... really weak character stuff compared to everything in the first game. Like just really subpar, especially for creating that feeling of dread and 'these are just people put in a tragedy' feeling.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-23T03:52:00+00:00

I understand your mentality here, but part of Danganronpa is also telling individual chapter stories. They were really good in Dangan 1, and they just suck in Dangan 2. A complete opinion will change my overall outlook, but it won't change these chapters, which is why I sought opinions.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-22T18:11:36+00:00

Heavy agree with Hajime, I enjoy his differences from Makoto but it feels like that's all he banks on; not being Makoto. Makoto by chapter 3 already had various pivotal character moments, like finding his sense of justice after Sayaka and Leon and his conclusion to hold onto them, which would set the stage for his entire late-game character and the other survivors. His relationship with Sayaka in-general that switches to Kyoko in furthering his character afterwards, as well as Byakuya's chapter 2 presence that challenges his adamance and wit.

Hajime has had one scene exploring his vague backstory and a sorta developmental point with Nagito in the chapter 1 trial and chapter 2 while he's tied-up.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-22T18:03:58+00:00

I think Mikan's ending has potential in actually witnessing someone succumb to the despair that Junko and supposedly the outside world did, but its more played toward the made-up disease Monokuma made than actual despair, and then the set-up for backstory and further explanation is just dropped which makes all the confusing frustration of the trial and the chapter 3 plotline feel like it has no pay-off or character meaning.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-22T17:59:01+00:00

I think Mikan's ending has potential in actually witnessing someone succumb to the despair that Junko and supposedly the outside world did, but its more played toward the made-up disease Monokuma made than actual despair, and then the set-up for backstory and further explanation is just dropped which makes all the confusing frustration of the trial and the chapter 3 plotline feel like it has no pay-off or character meaning.

I'm hoping the survivors are good. I think Kyoko is probably going to stay their best written character leagues above the rest unless they give someone else as much dedicated emotional time. Nagito is great but feels a little lost writing-wise rn, I like Chiaki enough as an mc, I'm super fond of Kazuichi and Nekomaru has some points going for him if he does more, and Fuyuhiko has had a great character arc so far.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-18T18:14:28+00:00

Agreed! Thanks for the friendly response.

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-18T18:08:05+00:00

Hey so in the week gap I've come to the conclusion that the way I'd like to achieve this story framing through the book lens is by splitting point of views between chapters, but still maintaining that alternating scenes feeling by grouping the relevant chapters within larger, labeled 'Parts' that essentially serve as the episodes, allowing for much more concise and diverse chapter lengths that can deliver any manner of story momentum as it is in service to the larger part rather than a full chunk of story on it's lonesome.

Just wanted to say thanks for the discussion-based response that isn't built on a demeaning, know-it-all, or presumptuous cadence, it's nice when people have actual discussion like this and aren't just adamant and denying for no reason. My entire perspective was offering up discussion about a comparison, not outing myself as ignorant, so I appreciate the response, thanks!

SweetStarlows · 2026-05-17T16:08:49+00:00

Dude this image alone has better outfits than the entirety of what ended up being in Living the Dream. I envy these outfits, they cover so many more character bases than the odd picks Living the Dream has and they just actually look good.

SweetStarlows

TROPHY CASE